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patients during the sickness； and now they came to town again nobody
cared to employ them。 They were called deserters； and frequently bills
were set up upon their doors and written； 'Here is a doctor to be let'； so
that several of those physicians were fain for a while to sit still and
look about them； or at least remove their dwellings； and set up in new
places and among new acquaintance。 The like was the case with the
clergy； whom the people were indeed very abusive to； writing verses
and scandalous reflections upon them； setting upon the church…door；
'Here is a pulpit to be let'； or sometimes； 'to be sold'； which was worse。
It was not the least of our misfortunes that with our infection； when
it ceased； there did not cease the spirit of strife and contention； slander
and reproach； which was really the great troubler of the nation's peace
before。 It was said to be the remains of the old animosities； which had
so lately involved us all in blood and disorder。 But as the late Act of
Indemnity had laid asleep the quarrel itself； so the Government had
recommended family and personal peace upon all occasions to the
whole nation。
But it could not be obtained； and particularly after the ceasing of the
plague in London； when any one that had seen the condition which the
people had been in； and how they caressed one another at that time；
promised to have more charity for the future； and to raise no more
reproaches； I say； any one that had seen them then would have thought
they would have come together with another spirit at last。 But； I say；
it could not be obtained。 The quarrel remained； the Church and the
Presbyterians were incompatible。 As soon as the plague was removed；
the Dissenting ousted ministers who had supplied the pulpits which
were deserted by the incumbents retired； they could expect no other
but that they should immediately fall upon them and harass them with
their penal laws； accept their preaching while they were sick； and
persecute them as soon as they were recovered again； this even we
that were of the Church thought was very hard； and could by no means
approve of it。
But it was the Government； and we could say nothing to hinder it；
we could only say it was not our doing； and we could not answer for it。
On the other hand； the Dissenters reproaching those ministers of the
Church with going away and deserting their charge； abandoning the
people in their danger； and when they had most need of comfort； and
the like： this we could by no means approve； for all men have not the
same faith and the same courage； and the Scripture commands us to
judge the most favourably and according to charity。
A plague is a formidable enemy； and is armed with terrors that every
man is not sufficiently fortified to resist or prepared to stand the shock
against。 It is very certain that a great many of the clergy who were in
circumstances to do it withdrew and fled for the safety of their lives；
but 'tis true also that a great many of them stayed； and many of them
fell in the calamity and in the discharge of their duty。
It is true some of the Dissenting turned…out ministers stayed； and
their courage is to be commended and highly valued … but these were
not abundance； it cannot be said that they all stayed； and that none
retired into the country； any more than it can be said of the Church
clergy that they all went away。 Neither did all those that went away go
without substituting curates and others in their places； to do the
offices needful and to visit the sick； as far as it was practicable； so
that； upon the whole； an allowance of charity might have been made
on both sides； and we should have considered that such a time as this
of 1665 is not to be paralleled in history； and that it is not the stoutest
courage that will always support men in such cases。 I had not said
this； but had rather chosen to record the courage and religious zeal of
those of both sides； who did hazard themselves for the service of the
poor people in their distress； without remembering that any failed in
their duty on either side。 But the want of temper among us has made
the contrary to this necessary： some that stayed not only boasting too
much of themselves； but reviling those that fled； branding them with
cowardice； deserting their flocks； and acting the part of the hireling；
and the like。 I recommend it to the charity of all good people to look
back and reflect duly upon the terrors of the time； and whoever does
so well see that it is not an ordinary strength that could support it。 It
was not like appearing in the head of an army or charging a body of
horse in the field； but it was charging Death itself on his pale horse； to
stay was indeed to die； and it could be esteemed nothing less；
especially as things appeared at the latter end of August and the
beginning of September； and as there was reason to expect them at
that time； for no man expected； and I dare say believed； that the
distemper would take so sudden a turn as it did； and fall immediately
two thousand in a week； when there was such a prodigious number of
people sick at that time as it was known there was； and then it was
that many shifted away that had stayed most of the time before。
Besides； if God gave strength to some more than to others； was it to
boast of their ability to abide the stroke； and upbraid those that had
not the same gift and support； or ought not they rather to have been
humble and thankful if they were rendered more useful than their
brethren？
I think it ought to be recorded to the honour of such men； as well
clergy as physicians； surgeons； apothecaries； magistrates； and officers
of every kind； as also all useful people who ventured their lives in
discharge of their duty； as most certainly all such as stayed did to the
last degree； and several of all these kinds did not only venture but lose
their lives on that sad occasion。
I was once making a list of all such； I mean of all those professions
and employments who thus died； as I call it； in the way of their duty；
but it was impossible for a private man to come at a certainty in the
particulars。 I only remember that there died sixteen clergymen； two
aldermen； five physicians； thirteen surgeons； within the city and
liberties before the beginning of September。 But this being； as I said
before； the great crisis and extremity of the infection； it can be no
complete list。 As to inferior people； I think there died six…and…forty
constables and head…boroughs in the two parishes of Stepney and
Whitechappel； but I could not carry my list oil； for when the violent
rage of the distemper in September came upon us； it drove us out of
all measures。 Men did then no more （lie by tale and by number。 They
might put out a weekly bill； and call them seven or eight thousand； or
what they pleased； 'tis certain they died by heaps； and were buried by
heaps； that is to say； without account。 And if I might believe some
people； who were more abroad and more conversant with those things
than I though I was public enough for one that had no more business
to do than I had； … I say； if I may believe them； there was not many less
buried those first three weeks in September than 20；000 per week。
However； the others aver the truth of it； yet I rather choose to keep to
the public account； seven and eight thousand per week is enough to
make good all that I have said of the terror of those times； …and it is
much to the satisfaction of me that write； as well as those that read； to
be able to say that everything is set down with moderation； and rather
within compass than beyond it。
Upon all these accounts； I say； I could wish； when we were
recovered； our conduct had been more distinguished for charity and
kindness in remembrance of the past calamity； and not so much a
valuing ourselves upon our boldness in staying； as if all men were
cowards that fly from the hand of God； or that those who stay do not
sometimes owe their courage to their ignorance； and despising the
hand of their Maker … which is a criminal kind of desperation； and not
a true courage。
I cannot but leave it upon record that the civil officers； such as
constables； head…boroughs； Lord Mayor's and sheriffs'…men； as also
parish officers； whose business it was to take charge of the poor； did
their duties in general with as much courage as any； and perhaps with
more； because their work was attended with more hazards； and lay
more among the poor； who were more subject to be infected； and in
the most pitiful plight when they were taken with the infection。 But
then it must be added； too； that a great number of them died； indeed it
was scarce possible it should be otherwise。
I have not said one word here about the physic or preparations that
we ordinarily made use of on this terrible occasion … I mean we that
went frequently abroad and up down street； as I did； much of this was
tal